Accent 1 not used in Smart Art in Powerpoint

Hi @Eileen J Roden, 

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum and sharing your experience. 

I understand you are seeing SmartArt skip Accent 1 in PowerPoint Version 2507 Build 19029.20156. In a sequence of six boxes, it uses Accents 2 through 6, then repeats Accent 2. I want to help you resolve this quickly.  SmartArt colors come from the presentation theme and the specific SmartArt color set you choose under Change Colors. Some color sets begin with Accent 2 by design. The steps below will help you switch to a color set that includes Accent 1, verify your theme colors, and confirm everything works as expected. 

1/ You can check which SmartArt color set is applied 

• Select the SmartArt graphic. 
• Open SmartArt Design on the ribbon. 
• Select Change Colors. 
• Choose a color set that uses the full theme accents starting from the first accent. Try the first option in Colorful which applies Accent colors from the theme in order. 
• If your current selection shows a range such as Accent colors 2 to 3 or similar, switch to a set that uses the full range. 

Note: Different SmartArt color sets can start from different accent positions. Choosing a set that starts at the first accent usually brings Accent 1 back into use. 

2/ You can try to confirm your theme really has a distinct Accent 1 

• Go to Design. 
• In Variants, open the Colors menu and select Customize Colors. 
• Check Accent 1. Temporarily set it to a vivid test color that clearly differs from Accents 2 to 6. 
• Select Save, then insert a new SmartArt and check if the first item now uses the test color. 
• If it works, change Accent 1 to your desired brand color and save the theme. 

3/ You might to reset the current SmartArt 

• Select the SmartArt. 
• Go to SmartArt Design. 
• Choose Reset Graphic. 
• Apply Change Colors again and pick the color set from Step 1. 

4/ Trying to test in a clean file and with the default Office theme 

This helps rule out template or theme issues. 

• Create a new blank presentation. 
• Go to Design and select the built in Office theme. 
• Insert the same SmartArt layout and repeat Step 1. 
• If Accent 1 appears in the new file, the issue is likely related to the custom theme or template used in the original file. 

5/ You can try to update Office and try a quick safe test 

• Open File then Account then Update Options then Update Now. 
• Close PowerPoint. 
• Start PowerPoint in safe mode by holding Ctrl while opening PowerPoint and choosing Yes. 
• Insert a new SmartArt and test again. 

6/ Workarounds if you need a fast result today 

• After inserting SmartArt, use SmartArt Design then Convert then Convert to Shapes. 
• Select the shapes and apply your Accent 1 color manually from Shape Format then Shape Fill. 
• This keeps visual consistency while we continue to investigate why Accent 1 is skipped. 

For your infromation that you can concern:  

• Some SmartArt color schemes may skip Accent 1 due to accessibility settings or built-in design logic. 
• If you’re using a corporate template, it may have predefined color behaviors. You can check with your design team or adjust the theme as described above. 

If the issue continues, please reply with:

1. A sample presentation that shows the problem.
2. The exact SmartArt layout name and the color set name you chose under Change Colors.
3. Whether a custom theme or corporate template is in use, and a copy of that theme if possible.
4. A quick screen recording or screenshots of your Change Colors selection and Customize Colors dialog.

Please let me know if there’s anything else I can assist you with. I’m here to support you every step of the way.  

Hi @Eileen J Roden, 

Good day! I hope this message finds you well.

It's been a while since our last conversation, and I wanted to check in on how things are progressing with the issues we've discussed. Have you had a chance to review the answers we have provided?

If there is anything else, I can help you, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I would be happy to help.

Thank you again for your patience and for choosing Microsoft Q&A forum. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can assist you with. I’m here to support you every step of the way.